Flaming lighter



HNVENTOR AWORNEY D. A. HIGH-HANDS FLAMING LIGHTER Filed Feb. 2l, 1934Patented Apr. 7, 1936 FATENT QFFQE FLAMING LIGHTER Donald A. Richards,Yonkers, N. Y., assigner to Vestalite Corporation, poration of New YorkApplication February 2l,

4 Claims.

This invention relates to flaming lighters employing a catalyst, and myimprovement is directed to a lighter of this class wherein the catalystis supported by a base member that is in removable engagement with atubular housing which is lined interiorly with an absorbent element, tobe charged with vaporizable fuel.

The removable base is provided with air admission means, and acylindrical cover, adapted to t slidably over the tubular housing, andcarrying interiorly a concentric sleeve adapted to yseparate thecatalyst from the absorbent element when the cover is telescoped overthe housing in its closed position, said air admission means, in theoperation of withdrawing the cover, serving through the suction createdin such withdrawal to provide a rush of air into the tubular housing,for co-action with vapor from the fuel, to react upon the catalyst,whose consequent incandescence will ignite the vapor, thus producing theflame.

It will be understood that upon removal of the base with the supportedcatalyst, and the removal also of the cover with its catalyst separatingsleeve, then the absorbent lining of the tubular housing may be suitablycharged with liquid fuel.

Other features and advantages of my invention will hereinafter appear.

In the drawingz- Figure 1 is a side sectional elevation of the lighter.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevation, partly broken away, showing the lighterelements, with the exception of the base and catalyst.

Fig. 4 is a detail of the lighter base and catalyst.

In said views let I indicate the lighter base, which may be of suitablecross-sectional contour, and is here shown, for example, as circular.

Said base has the surrounding wall 2 with an inturned flange 3, fromwhich a neck-like, eX- teriorly threaded projection 4 extends upwardly.A tubular member 5 extends centrally through the base and projectsupwardly therefrom, for purposes to be described hereinafter. Saidmember 5 may be drawn integrally from the base material. The basesupports a pad or gasket Ei that surrounds member 5 and whose uppersurface is bounded by the flange 3.

At I, I have indicated a blob or pellet of spongy platinum composition,constituting the catalyst, which is connected with strands 8 of platinumNew York, N. Y., a cor- 1934, Serial No. 712,340

(Cl. ITI-7) wire that are strung upon a supporting frame 9. Said frame 9is suitably carried by the base, and is here shown as provided with acoil I0 that fits snugly over the member 5, for such support.

A tubular housing member II, open at both ends, is provided with aninterior thread at one end whereby it may be screwed upon and releasedfrom the neckelike projection II of the base. Also, at the same endmember li may have an annular abutment l2, which may be knurled, tofacil- 10 itate the connecting and disconnecting operations.

The member I I is lined interiorly with absorbent material I3 forsaturation with vaporizable fuel, such as alcohol, and is in surroundingrela- 15 tion with the catalyst, for co-action therewith when thelighter is in operation.

Also a cover I4 is provided in the form of a cylnder, with a closed endI5, said cover being adapted to lit slidably over housing il. Said coverI4 carries an inner tube I6 which is in concentric spaced relationtherewith, and is adapted, at its lower end, to impinge against thegasket 6, to effect therewith a vapor tight enclosure for the catalystwhen the cover has been telescoped over housing member Ii to the lightedclosed position. In the example shown the upper, closed end I'I of innertube I6 is Xed to the top I5 of cover Ill, to integrate these members I4, il.

It being understood that the catalyst for its reaction requires toabsorb the vapor from the fuel, in the presence of an adequate supply ofair, therefore it will be noted that in the act of removing the coverI4, with its attached inner tube I6, thereby the catalyst becomesexposed to vapor from the absorbent element I3 and also a quota of freshair is drawn into the housing by the suction created through theadmission tube 5.

When the absorbent element is to be recharged with fuel the base,carrying the catalyst, is re- 40 moved and then the cover III can bewithdrawn from housing I I, thus leaving the absorbent niaterial freefor recharging.

Variations within the spirit and scope of my invention are equallycomprehended by the fore- 45 going disclosure.

l. A Yliaming lighter comprising an apertured base, a supporting framemounted on said base,

a catalyst supported on said frame, an open ended housing mounted on andextending from said base, absorbent material to be charged withvaporizable fuel carried on the interior of said housing in proximity tosaid catalyst, a removable cover slidable over said housing, and aninner sleeve carried by said cover positioned between said absorbentmaterial and said catalyst and co-acting with said base to separate saidabsorbent material and said catalyst, said cover being adapted in itsremoval to draw atmospheric air through said apertured base and toremove said sleeve to allow communication between said absorbentmaterial and said catalyst.

A flaming lighter comprising a base, a hollow tube on said base toprovide an air passage, a supporting frame mounted on said tube, acatalyst supported on said frame, an open ended housing on and extendingfrom said base, absorbent material to be charged with Vaporizable fuelcarried on the interior of said housing in proximity to said catalyst, aremovable cover slidable over said housing, and an inner sleeve carriedby said cover positioned between said absorbent material and saidcatalyst to co-act with said base to separate said absorbent materialand said catalyst, said cover being adapted in its removal to drawatmospheric air through the passage and to remove said sleeve to allowcommunication between said absorbent material and said catalyst.

3. A aming lighter comprising a base, a gasket on the inner surface ofsaid base, a hollow tube on said base to provide an air passage throughsaid base and said gasket, a supporting frame mounted on said tube, acatalyst supported on said frame, an open ended housing removablymounted on and extending from said base to surround said catalyst, anabsorbent interior lining for said housing to be charged withvaporizable fuel, a removable cover slidable over said housing, and aninner sleeve carried by said cover positioned between said absorbentlining and said catalyst to co-act with said gasket to separate saidlining and said catalyst, said cover being adapted in its removal todraw atmospheric air through said passage and to remove said sleeve toallow communication between said lining and said catalyst.

4. A flaming lighter comprising a base, a threaded flange on said base,a gasket on the inner surface of said base surrounded by said flange, ahollow tube secured to said base and extending through said base andsaid gasket to provide an air passage, a supporting frame mounted onsaid tube, a catalyst supported on said frame, a housing sleeve threadedon said. ange to surround said catalyst, an absorbent interior liningfor said housing sleeve to be charged with vaporizable fuel, a removablecover slidable over said housing sleeve, and an inner sleeve carried bysaid cover positioned between said absorbent lining and said catalystwith its lower edge impinging against said gasket to separate saidlining and said catalyst, said cover being adapted in its removal todraw atmospheric air through said passage and to remove said innersleeve to allow communication between said lining and said catalyst.

DONALD A. RICHARDS.

